Groundbreaking Set for September 2013 for New Center for Environmental and Life Sciences and School of Business Buildings

Release Date: July 29, 2013

The Board of Trustees of Montclair State University has authorized the award of a $102-million contract to Terminal Construction Corporation to provide general contractor services in support of the construction of two new state-of-the-art academic buildings on the University’s main campus.

The
buildings are a Center for Environmental and Life Sciences facility for the
College of Science and Mathematics and a new main building for the School of
Business.

These
two shovel-ready projects, along with certain information technology
improvements, are being partially funded by the State of New Jersey. With the
support of both the Governor and the Legislature, the State earlier this year
awarded nearly $94 million in funding to the University – more than the amount
received by any other senior public or private institution – from the $750
million “Building Our Future” Bond Act that was approved by voters in November
2012. The bond act represents the first major State capital investment in university
and college facilities in more than a quarter of a century.

In
announcing the list of funded projects in April, New Jersey Governor Chris
Christie noted that the capital improvements would help the state’s higher
education institutions stay competitive, retain top students and “make our
colleges more attractive research partners for industries looking to bring good
paying jobs and businesses here.”

“This
substantial and catalytic investment by the State will greatly benefit both New
Jersey’s students and economy by building upon critical areas of expertise and
excellence that reside in our strong, high-demand programs in business and the
sciences,” says University President Susan A. Cole. By creating 1,500
construction and support jobs, the Montclair State projects also will provide a
significant boost to state and local economies.

With
groundbreaking scheduled for September for both buildings, Montclair State is
the first school to begin construction on its State-funded projects, which are
expected to be completed by spring 2015.

“These
are urgently needed facilities,” notes Cole.

The
$55-million, 107,500-square-foot Center for Environmental and Life Sciences
will expand the University’s science and research infrastructure by 50 percent.
Its state-of-the-art classrooms and research labs will support programs and
research in sustainability science, pharmaceutical biochemistry and medicinal
chemistry, as well as for biological, computing and mathematical sciences.

The
School of Business will replace its current outmoded home with a $66-million,
143,000-square-foot building that will house a 150-seat lecture hall, high-tech
classrooms and computer labs, as well as market research/analysis labs and a
financial trading floor. It will also be the home of the University’s Feliciano
Center for Entrepreneurship and the Institute for Corporate Social
Responsibility.

“Capital
improvements such as these are essential to the future of Montclair State and
of all New Jersey’s great institutions of higher learning,” says Cole. “These
projects herald a new era for Montclair State and for higher education in New
Jersey.”